The PGA is saddened to report that Jack Wilkshire, one of the Association’s longest serving Members who played in the Open Championship on 11 occasions, has passed away at the age of 91.
Elected to Membership in 1949, Jack worked at five clubs, starting at St Anne’s Old Links near Blackpool, and ending at Bicester Golf Club, Oxfordshire.
In between times he served Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire, Arrowe Park, Cheshire, and Stone Golf Club, Staffordshire.
While at Sherwood Forest, Jack would play in the biannual match against Erewash Valley just down the M1 in Derbyshire. On one occasion, playing with his captain, Jack opened up with an eagle, despatching his drive straight down the middle of the 340-yard first and then holing his approach.
As well as setting the tone for their 6&5 victory, it provided a cameo of his skills as a player.
Those were recognised when Jack represented Great Britain and Ireland in the forerunner of the PGA Cup, the Diamondhead Matches against the USA in North Carolina in 1973.
Former PGA Captain Bryon Hutchinson was also in the team and he remembers Jack fondly as a great striker of the golf ball who was known to many as Happy Jack.
Two years prior to the skirmish with the Americans, Jack had made the cut at The Open for the final time, finishing 49th at Royal Birkdale. He also made the cut in 1967, 58 and 56, finishing 47th, 33rd, and 47th respectively.
Curiously all four cuts he made were on the Lancashire and Wirral coasts – the Royal Clubs at Lytham & St Anne’s, Birkdale and twice at Hoylake.
Jack was made an Honorary Member in 1998, three years before he retired. On retirement he continued to play whenever possible and at the time of his death he had been a Member for 73 years.
